Can’t you kerb your costs?
7:10am Sunday 24th August 2008
DISGRUNTLED motorists have been told to cough up £900 to pay for their kerb to be dropped.
Residents living in Lostock Avenue, in Bewsey, have been sent a letter from Warrington Borough Council telling them to fork out for the costly procedure.
Vicki Leslie was sent a letter from the council informing her that she would need to pay for the kerb to be dropped.
The 21-year-old said: “The letter is worded in a way that the condition of the kerb is illegal and they are bullying us into it. They don’t give a very clear reason for the measures except that it is damaging the kerb. I was told if anyone was to trip over the kerb they would sue me.”
But she argues that the damage to the paving stones would still happen as she would still have to drive over the pathway to park on her driveway in front of her property.
“I park on the driveway but it means we have to go over the kerb. They say we are causing damage to the footpath yet if they drop the kerb we would still be driving on the pavement,” she added.
The council says it regularly carries out highway inspections that include looking at access to drives.
David Boyer, head of service for sustainable transportation, said: “If a property has a driveway, but not a ‘drop down’ kerb to allow access then the occupiers are in breach of The Highways Act 1980, which makes it an offence to drive a vehicle across a footway or verge where there is no proper vehicle crossover.”
He said driving over a pavement that has not been constructed to withstand vehicles damages the surface, the kerb and any pipes and cable hidden underneath.
This could lead to health and safety issues and the occupier can be held liable for repair costs, he said.
“We do offer the resident a number of options to have the kerb lowered to allow access, which includes the council undertaking the works at a cost to the individual or they can get a contractor to undertake the work directly for them. If the latter is the case, a permit must be obtained from the council to ensure the work is done to the right standard,” Mr Boyer added.
But Miss Leslie says residents are charged an extra five per cent to pay in four periods, adding an extra £45 to the cost.
“We can’t afford to have it done even if we wanted to, it’s hard for everyone,” she said.